Recoilless explosive rivet



Dec. 16, 1969 e. HARE ETAL 3,483,791

RECOILLESS EXPLOSIVE RIVET Filed May 17 1968 INVENTORS GEORGE HARE JAMES E KOWALiCK mg $1M? ,y-MM' 5 ATTORh i as:

United States Patent 3,483,791 RECOILLESS EXPLOSIVE RIVET George Hare, Feasterville, and James F. Kowaliek, South Hampton, Pa., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed May 17, 1968, Ser. No. 730,134 Int. Cl. F16b 19/12 US. Cl. 85-37 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cylinder of mild steel having cavities at either end connected by a first channel axially located. The cavities house a charge of an extremely high explosive. Another channel housing a lead sheathed explosive cord, passes transversely through the cylinder and intersects the center of the first channel.

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The invention relates to an explosive rivet and more particularly to an explosive rivet which is recoilless.

Explosive rivets of the prior art teach the use of an explosive charge at one end of the rivet which upon detonation thereof will explode thereby causing an expansion of said end and fastening therof. -An example of this type of rivet can be found in US. Patent No. 2,378,118, issued on June 12, 1945 to Anton Widrich.

Upon the advent of the space program, the aforedescribed rivet became unsatisfactory for two main reasons, namely: (1) the detonation had to be accomplished at the work site; and (2) the recoil from the explosion caused the space vehicle or work site to be disturbed and moved from its orbit.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an explosive rivet that is recoilless.

Another object is the provision of an explosive rivet that can be detonated from a remote location.

A further object is to provide an explosive rivet that can be utilized in outer space.

The above objects as well as others together with the benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the detailed description set forth below, particularly when taken in conjunction with the drawing annexed hereto in which an explosive rivet is illustrated generally by reference character 10. The rivet comprises a metallic cylinder 12 made of mild steel, having hemispherical pockets 14 at either end and an axial channel 16. The cyclinder 12 has a large diameter center portion 18 having a transverse channel 20 therethrough which intersects the center of axial channel 16. The channels 16 and 20 both house a lead-sheathed explosive cord 22 and 24, respectively, using lead azide as a primary explosive. Both pockets 14 contain a secondary high explosive 26 such as PETN. Lead seals 28 are provided to contain the secondary high explosives.

Patented Dec. 16, 1969 ice In operation, the explosive cord 24 is initiated by some external source which in turn initiates the center of explosive cord 22 which transfers the initiation to the two secondary high explosives 26 causing simultaneous detonation therof. The detonation of both explosives 26 causes the respective ends of the cylinder to expand.

When the rivet 10 is placed between two members, the members abut the ends of the larger diameter portion 18 of the cylinder almost completely engulfing the smaller diameter ends. The expansion of the ends upon detonation of the secondary explosives causes a permanent jointure of the two members to occur and the simultaneity of detonation of the explosives results in the absence of any recoil since the directions of all detonating fronts are opposed equally at all times during the joining procedure.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the prsent invention are possible in light of the above teachings.

We claim:

1. A recoilless explosive rivet comprising a cylinder having an axial channel ending in a pocket at each end, and a transverse channel intersecting the the center of said axial channel,

a primary explosive housed in said axial channel and said transverse channel.

a secondary explosive housed in each of said pockets,

and

seal means enclosing each of said pockets,

whereby initiation of the primary explosive in said transverse channel initiates the primary explosive in said axial channel in the center thereof simultaneously detonating the secondary explosive housed in each of said pockets.

2. A rivet of the type described in claim 1 wherein said primary explosive is a lead-sheathed explosive cord.

3. A rivet of the type described in claim 1 wherein said secondary explosive is PETN.

4. A rivet of the type described in claim 1 wherein said seal means is a lead seal.

5. A rivet of the type described in claim 1 wherein the portion of the cylinder including the transverse channel is of a larger diameter than the remaining portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,400,401 12/ 1921 Allan -37 2,387,742 10/ 1945 Burrows 85-65 2,679,783 6/1954 Smith 85-1.5 2,956,469 10/1960 Barbeau et al. 85-65 2,977,837 4/1961 Furini 85-65 3,237,521 3/1966 Francis 89l.01 3,213,743 10/ 1965 Campbell 85-65 FOREIGN PATENTS 467,515 6/ 1937 Great Britain.

687,574 2/ 1953 Great Britain.

537,856 5/ 1955 Belgium.

MARION PARSON, JR., Primary Examiner 

